higley



M y 6, 1947- F. R. HIGLEY 2,420,078

THERMAL-LY RES PONS I VE DEVICE Filed March 27, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

INVENTOR. fimnx R fl/GLEY BY MWQW Arron/var;

, tially by the cascading Patented May 6, 1947 I Frank R. Higley,

FFlC E signor to The Bryant Heater Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application March 27, 1943, Serial No; 480,829 8Claims. (o1. its-117.1)

' This invention relates to improvements in thermally responsive devices, including an improved thermally responsive unit employed in the device.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of a thermally responsive device which shall function rapidly and shall have an unusually long stroke while retaining the strength necessary for the operation of heating controls or the like, theseadvantages being obtained, parunits, but more particularly by the employment of a unit havingcertain novel characteristics.

Another object is the provision of a thermally responsive unit of the type in which a pair of leg elements are employed, which unit shall be of thermally responsive rigid longitudinally and the joints of which shall I I ing in its-lower surface a, circular valve seat l9 be rigid lengthwise of the unitbut flexible crosswise. 1

I A further object is the provision of a unit of this character which shall be compact, shall require a minimum quantity of expensive metal, and one which may be easily assembled and producible in quantity in such manner as to have uniformity in operation. I

Still another object isthe provision of a pilot assembly embodying a, thermally responsive de vice which shall be adaptable for use in vertical, horizontal or intermediate positions.

Other objects and features of novelty will appear as I proceed with the description of, those embodiments of the invention which, for the purposes of the present application, I have illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is an elevational view, partly in section, of a thermally responsive device embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of pearing in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 5 is a section in line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a plan or elevational view,'depending upon circumstances, of a thermally responsive unit built in accordance with the invention;

Figs. 7, 8, 9 and 10 are detail sectional views of the same taken substantially on the lines 11, 8-8, 9-9 and Ill-I0 of Fig. 6; I

Fig. 11 is a fragmental elevational view looking in the direction of arrow ll,,Fig. 6;

Fig. .12 is a fragmental elevational view of a modified form of thermally responsive device; and

, Fig. 13 is a plan view of the same.

the bracket apthe plane indicated by functioning also as a In Figs. 1, 2 and 3 I have illustrated a pilot assembly, including a thermally responsive device in which is embodied a novel thermally responsive unit. In addition to this novel unit the illustrated device. comprises also a second thermally responsive unit arranged alongside the first one, the two, units being attachedtogether and being arranged to be heated bya common flame so thattheir deflections will be additive,

and the first unit being preferably tubularand pilot burner. I

I As illustrated herein, the device comprises a casting l5 to which areconnected fuel gas condustors and H, the conductor lfi'coming from the gas supply and the conductor l'l, leading to I the burner whose operation is to'be controlled.

In the'ca'sting there is arvalve chamber l8havupon :which is adapted to resta ball valve 20 fiow of gas from conductor Near the upper end of pilot tube 23 I form a series of vertically spaced small bore apertures I from which issue thev small. flames or ports 21 which serve units in the to heat the thermally responsive manner which will be presently described. The upper end ofthe pilot tube may have a port therein as shown, and from this port arelatively large flame may be played 'uponthe burner to be ignited. I

The upper end of pilot tube 23 is straddled by the legs of a U-shaped bracket 28, the bracket being secured to the tube by a plurality of spotwelds, indicated at 29, through each leg. As will appear, the pilot tube itself acts as athermally responsive unit, from which this bracket 28 constitutes a connection with and support for a sec- "ond' thermally responsiveunit which will now' be described.

30 is a long leg of channel form attached at its upper end to the bracket 28 and disposed to extend downwardly alongside the pilot tube 23- with a small space therebetween. 3| is a short leg also of channel form. The upper ends of both of these legs and the lower end of the short" air conducting pipe later to be 7 Consequently the with a cumulative lust lit'aftera period left side offthe pilot tube whole is a lateral flexing leg have their flanges reduced as at 32 to gradually diminish their height leaving only flat web portions which form protruding end tabs 33, 34 and 35. These tabs are rigid as against force applied lengthwise of the legs but are flexible crosswise, thatis to say, they flex readily when subjected to. force tending to bend them-trans.- versely of their legs.

It is to be noted that the reduction of the flanges at the ends of their legs is not only gradual, but effectively with curvature having tangency to the resultant flat end tabs. This is important, without impairing flexibility. V e

For mounting of the legs 38, 3| the cross-piece or base of the U-shaped bracket 28 has therein two small oppositely directed projections 18, 1| struck up from the metal thereof, and a similar projection 12, struck up from the web portion of leg 38 opposite the lower end of leg 3|. Welds are eflected at these projections 10, 1i and 12.

tabs 33 and 34 touch the suptive leg 3|, thermal expansion of the bracket 23. and flexure of the pilot tube 23.

It will be apparent that upon extinguishment of the pilot flame 21 the reverse effect is had-upon each of the described three contributing functional arrangements, so that the lower end of the leg element 30 returns to its initial cold position.

as it avoids localization of flexure port 38' at the projections 18, 1| only, and the tab 35 touches the'leg 38 at the projection 12 only. Transfer of heat between the legs is therefore substantially confined to the paths through said small projections in the bracket.

The thermally responsive operation of the device will be as follows: In Fig. 1 there appear essentially three units each individually responsive to operation of the pilot flame 21, all acting or additive effect to move the lower end of the member relative to the lower end of the pilot tube 23 in the following manner:

Referring to Fig. 1 and'assuming the pilot flame apparent'that ignition or the pilot flame heats the right hand leg member 3 ,sthe bracket 28, and'the The leg members 33 and 3| together form a pair of leg elements which cooperatively comprise a thermally responsiveunit. When the shorter element 3| is heated relativeto the longer element 33, the former extends under thermal expansion, substantially without flexure intermediate its length because of its flanges, but flexes at its end tabs causing deflection or swinging of the lower end of the element 30 to the left relative to the bracket 28, this movement of the element 33 being accompanied by flexure at its upper end tab 33. The characteristic of the motion of the unit as a or deflection'of its lower or free end relative to its upper or base end although actually because of its flanges the element 30 swings rather than flexes.

The bracket 28 itself receiving heat from the pilot flame has thermal expansion transversely of tube 23 in Fig. l to move its base part 36 from the upper end of the pilot tube 23. This causes transitory motion of the element 38 from the pilot tube 23 so that its lower and moves. further to the left than would otherwise be the case.

Theleft hand side of the tube 23 being heated by the pilot flame more than the right side, thermal expansion of the left side relative to the right side effects curvature or flexure ofthe upper end of the pilot tube toward the right, with consequent clockwise angularity of its upper end relative to its flxed lower end. Such angularity is imparted to the leg element 30, by the bracket 28, so that the lower extremity of the element 38 moves still further to the left, Fig. l. v

Thus, the total motion of theleg member 30 to the left responsive to the flame 21 represents the sum of the effect of the extension of its cooperaof non-operation, it will be from the .fact that 'relation to One means or bringing It is notable that the pilot tube 23 and the cooperative pair of leg elements 33 and 31 comprise two units both thermally responsive to a common source of heat located between them. are both ofelongated sive to the heat source, the motion of the two being so related that their total motion represents the sum of their individual motions. This follows the base of one of the unitsthat having the leg elements 38, 3|-is flxed in the free or moving end of the other unit-the pilot tube 23-and consequently remote from the base of the latter which is its lower end, Fig. l.

Referring now to Figs. 6 to 11 inclusive, the two legs 38 and 3| are arranged back to back and their upper ends are spaced apart, preferably by an interposed mounting'support 38. The tabs 33 and 34, disposedupon opposite sides of the support 33,

g are joined to the latter rigidly by spot-welds '31 and 38 which may be simultaneously made; The tab is attached'to the web of leg 38 by a further spot-weld 38. The construction is thus generally 1 except that the welding a slightly modifled form of U -shaped bracket 28, wherein the side elements of the bracket are provided withreenforeing flanges 28'. In other respects the bracket is substantially like that of Figs. land 2. I

In the illustrated case, the thermally responsiv device-is employed for valve actuation, and for the purpose spin or rod 4| is adiustably threaded in the lower end'of leg 30, the pin being slidable through an opening in the casting l8 and its free end being arranged to engage ball valve 20 for pushing the'latter 01! its seat when leg 38 "swings toward the left in Fig. 1.

' Surrounding the pilot tube 23 between the casting l5 and the ports 21 there is an air intake pipe 42, the axis'of which is ofl'set from the axis of tube 23 in the direction toward the element 33, 3!. the pipe to this eccentric position and maintaining it'there is illustrated in Fig. l, where a pin 43 extends through an opening 33 in the pipe and an opening 45 in the'tube and is threaded in the wall of the tube opposite opening 45, its inner end being adapted to engage the inner wall of the pipe opposite the opening 33. When this pin is threaded inwardly as far as it will go, it pushes the pipe 32 to the left into engagement with the tube on the right-hand side of the latter as viewed in this flgure, and holds the parts in that relation. Air which has passed through the flame between the tube and the element 38, 3| enters the eccentric space at the top of pipe 32 and flows down between the pipe and the tube to pass through ports 23 into the pilot tube. By this means any particles of lint or dust in the air are incinerated and clogging of the form and both have motion responextremity, the end of the tube being closed. The member like the part 28, may be termed a bracket although in addition to its function for straddles tube 52, being securely welded thereto at 49. Its vertical dimension is approximately ,the same as that of leg 3|, and hence it encloses the space around they pilot flam except at the bottom and top of the latter, and thereby shields the flame against cross-drafts in any direction. Furthermore, the space within the well formed by member 5| and tube 52 is relatively insensitive to radiant heat. An air intake pipe 62 similar in function to pipe 42 extends upwardly into the well above mentioned, the air which enters this pipe being incinerated by the pilot flame. The web part of member 5| has a tab 54 struck out from its upper end and to this tab there is secured by a weld 51 a tab 53 at the upper end of a long leg 50 which may be substantially identical with leg 30 of the first described form of the invention. At the lower end of member 5| there is a tab55 which is secured to the web of leg 50 by a weld 59. The legs 50 and 5| are therefore mounted back to back with a space 60 between them. In this form of the invention the pilot flame is efiective to heat one side of the pilot tube 52 and to heat three sides of the member 5|. The expansion of one side ofthe pilot tube tends to tilt the member 5| clockwise and the expansion of that member tends to. swing the leg 52 clockwise about the connection between the tabs 53 and 54. Hence the deflection of the two units is additive.

The thermal unit 30, 3| or 50, 5|, as the case I may be, and more particularly the hot leg 3| or 5|, is constructed of an alloy having high resistance to corrosion and high thermal expansion with thermal conductivity as low as other considerations will permit. Each of the legs, because of its form, is highly rigid between its ends and highly flexible at the joints, which constitutes an important feature of the invention. The welds between legs provide joints which permit no lost motion such as would result from looseness in pivotal joints, while the flexible tabs permit bending at the joints without friction such as would result from tight pivot joints. The channel flanges of course contribute to the strength of the unit, but they have the additional advantage of confining the flame on the heated side so as to make it most eifective, while on the cool side they assist in radiating heat.

The pilot tube 23. or 52, as the case may be, is also constructed of material having high corrosion resistance and high thermal expansion since it constitutes one of two thermally responsive units going to make up a double-acting thermally responsive device. A pilot tube of such general character is disclosed in Patent No.

units. Accordingly the bracket in each of these 6 cases constitutes a third thermally responsive unit, the effect of which is added to the deflections of the other two. -However, the expansion of the bracket makes a contribution to the final result which is small in comparison to the flexure of the tubular and two-legged units, particularly the latter. c a

While I have described the unit of Fig. 6 as a. compensated unit and inFig. 1 have shown an application of a similar unit for that purpose, it should be understood that the two legs may be constructed of metals or alloys having difierent coefficients of expansiomin other words,'it may type arranged alongside each other, one of saidunits being metallic and tubular and being anchored at one end, the other unit being attached to and supported by the free end of said tubular unit, and means for introducing a combustible mixture into said tubular unit; said tubular unit having side port means adapted to introduce flame into the space between said units;

- 2. In a device of the character described, a thin walled metallic pilot tube, a thermally responsive unit of the laterally deflecting type disposed alongside said pilot tube having one end attached toand supported upon the free end of the pilot tube, said pilot tube having side port means therein disposed to introduce flame into the space between itself and said unit to laterally deflect both and thereby cause additive motion of the pilot tube and unit.

3. In a device of the character described, a thermally responsive pilot tube, a thermally responsive unit disposed alongside said pilot tube having one end attached to and supported upon the free end of the pilot tube, said pilot tube having port means therein" disposed to introduce flame into the space between itself and said unit, and an intake pipe for primary air disposed to take air from the space between said tube and said unit and to conduct it along the pilot tube and into the latter.

4. In apparatus of the character described, a thermally responsive pilot tube, a thermally responsive unit disposed alongside said pilot tube having one end attached to and supported upon the free end of the pilot tube, said pilot tube havingport means therein disposed to introduce flame into the space between itself and said unit, and an intake pipe for primary air eccentrically surrounding said pilot tube adjacent said port means with its axis offset from the tube axis in .the direction toward said unit, said pipe being disposed to take air from the space between said tube and said unit, and said tube having an air intake port communicating with the interior of said pipe.

5. In apparatus of the character described, a gas pilot tube anchored at one end, a thermally responsive unit of the type in which temperature changes cause sidewise motion, said unit being arranged alongside said pilot tube, and a U-shaped bracket rigidly connecting said unit with the free end of said pilot tube and enclosthereto,- said legs extending alongside said 'tube and being interconnected at a pointremote. from 35 V PATENTS said bracket, said tube having port means there- Number" Cmmtry .Date

in facing said thermally responsive unit. 25,058 Norse Oct. 5, 1914 r FRANK HIGLEY. v 309,463 German NOV. 25, 1918 4 8 ing a space between the unit and tube, said tube having port means arranged to introduce flame REFERENCES CITED into said space, wherebytthe bracket constitutes The following r re ces are of record in the flame shield. file of this patent: V

V 6. In a thermally responsive device,-a gas ilot V 5 tube anchored at one end a thermally respo sive STATES PATENTS unit comprising one long leg and one short leg, Nu ber 1 Name Date the short leg having one end flexibly connected r 8 ,707 Hansen Apr. 10,1906 with the long leg at one end of the latter and 8 7,298 Nix June 18, 1907 the other end of the short leg being flexibly con- 1,116,534 k r g-- 1 nected-with the long leg at an intermediate point ,267,164 Newton Dec. 23, 1941 of the latter, said shortieg having side flanges 2, 64, 87 Roberts etral. ly 4, 1939 embracing the pilot tube and welded to the free 2,000,294 Newell y 1935 end of said tube, whereby said short leg serves as 7,7 Newell Oct. 15, 1935 the means. for mounting said unit on the pilot 1,971,882 Tuck Aug. 28, 1934 tube, said pilot tube having port; means therein ,43 Gordon Jan. 2, 1940 adapted to play flame upon saidshort leg. 2,130,175 Betz et a1. Sept. 13, 1933 7. In apparatus of the character stated, a gas ,6 Beam Mar. 5, 1940 pilot tube anchor'edf'at one end, a U-shaped sheet 6 ,7 2 Beese Jan. 29, 1901 metal bracketthe sides of which embrace said ,842,336 TePas Jan. 19, 1932 tube and are secured thereto,a, thermally respon- 0 Davis June 18, 1940 sive unit comprising a pair of legs spacedv apart 1,966,735 k fli y 1934 by the cross member of the bracket and secured 2,260,737 Bergtholdt; 1941 thereto, said legs extending alongside said tube 2 Gordon, Jr. Jan. 2, 1940 and being connectedtogether'at a point remote 693,352 Glou et 19.02 from said bracket, said tube having port means 2,291,305 e son Aug. 4, 94 therein Opposite said thermally responsive .unit. 1,963,957 Cunningham June 1934 8. Inapparatus of the character stated; a gas 22,113 Morrow. W"; Nov. 19, 1940 pilot tube'anchored at one end, a UV-shaped sheet 1,290,865 Al'ias' Jan. 14. 19 metal bracket the sides of which embrace said 30 2,290,963 Higley y 1 tube and aresecured thereto, a thermallyirespon- 2,064,909 Hahn Dec. 22, 1936 sive unit comprising a pair of legs spaced apart 1,335,993 S k' Dec. 8, 1931 bythe cross member of the bracket and secured 2,1 2,62 Beam Mar. 5, 1940 

